Given we are lucky enough to live not far from this route, we have been picking off little parts of it over weekends and exploring slowly, combining staying in the rooftop campervan, with running, hiking, biking, paddle boarding and paragliding.
This weekend we decided to stay close to Ullapool and to explore Assynt. Assynt is a geographer’s dream and given I have a degree in Geography (love maps and colouring in pencils!), it really is dreamy.
Assynt lies in the south west of Sutherland just north of Ullapool. It is designated as a National scenic area and is full of mountains and water. Paradise playground for my hiking/running/cold water swimming. Most of the mountains are very distinctive in shape – Suliven, Quinag, Canisp and Stac Pollaidh are all firm favorites.
There are also some amazing caves including Scotland’s longest. The Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve is also worth a visit if you are interested in geology and landscapes.
On this weekend we climbed Canisp is the sunshine – me in my trail runners and Ben with his paraglider on his back. He had the easy route back down to the van. Watching him glide over Canisp and Suliven whilst I ran down was pretty special.
A post run dip (aka wash!) in a lochan before retiring to the van to cook some steak and drink some Malbec whilst watching the sun set.
